By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of Devin Smith, 23, of Lawrence Township, at the Applebee’s Restaurant on Route 1 in Lawrence last week.
Noel Powell III, 27, of Fountayne Lane, Lawrence Township, was taken into custody in Trenton Nov. 19 by members of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Smith was seated at the bar in the restaurant when Powell allegedly entered the restaurant, approached him and shot him in the head at 12:25 a.m. Nov. 14. Powell fled the scene. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Powell was charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Lawrence Township Police Department.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is filing a motion to have Powell detained. He is being held in the Mercer County Correction Center.
